As someone who is a regular night closer, LISTEN TO THEM! Since they most likely close all the time, they have a better estimate about when to clean out the espresso machines and how to do breakdown WITHOUT getting in the bar person’s way. I’m not a shift but it’s pretty typical for mine to attempt to get drawers and counts out of the way as soon as possible bc our truck comes late.

And another big one is if you can, have a partner dedicated to restroom, lobby, and floors at least 2 hr or an 1 and 30 before u close. Trust me when I say it makes a difference between getting out 45 after close or 2 hrs later.

But, yeah. Mostly just listen to your closers. They have a better understanding about how to get out quicker and more efficiently.

I'm the main night shift so I made this list for things to go smoother for me and whenever anyone asks what needs to get done they can see if the time slot has been completed.
I delegate things based on positioning and who is going to be the quickest at like getting floors done or large disruptive tasks. But when it's late I'll have bar person restocking milks since it's in their area and drive person doing backups that are stationary like whips, drizzles, VSC, and have ice bins melted based off the person nearest it. Things like that. You also learn where people are stronger and where they like to be and that makes things easier as you go along.

Your store may function differently than mine but here's what I go off of:


Barista closing checklist
12:00 - 4:00
FOH Floors and mats (make sure to pull out fridges!)
Check mocha time
3 Urns cleaned
Cold Brew
Oven(s)
Drains
Lobby Check (Napkins restocked, quick sweep, Greensweep)
Start working on backups

4:00 - 6:00
Bathrooms cleaned
Start Preclose
Warming station restocked

6:00 - 7:00
Bathroom & Lobby trash gathered
Final trash run
BOH floors swept and mopped

7:00 - 8:00
Corner DT Ice Bin melted
Final whips made
All milks stocked
Pastry Case disassembled and cleaned
1 FOH trash gathered, can flipped
Wipe tables, sweep & mop lobby/bathrooms

8:00 - 8:30
Final restock & backups finished
Set up tea pitchers for next day (Summer: 2 Each, Winter: 1 Each)
Set up Iced Coffee for morning (Summer: 4 bags, Winter: 3)
1 FOH trash gathered, can flipped
2nd Ice Bin melted

8:30 - 9:00 pm
Break down Left Bar completely (vacuum beans, run pills)
Recheck drains - Make sure empty of all food
1 FOH trash gathered, can flipped

9:00 - 9:30
Last Urn rinsed
Final Ice Bin melted
Break down Right Bar completely (vacuum beans, run pills)
Collect and clean remaining dishes (Grinder dishes, blender, tea pitchers, tongs, remaining milk pitchers, tea shakers & frap)
All trash gathered (leftover drinks and expired food thrown out)
Rag bag taken out

Backups:
5 White mocha (3 in winter)
3 Chai
1 Mocha (2 in winter)
1 Frap Roast
3 Strawberry Acai cubes
2 Mango Dragon Fruit cubes
6 Lemonades (4 in Winter)
1 Strawberry & Dragon Fruit Inclusions
2 Cubes & 3 Pitchers VSC
Caramel Drizzles
Whips

Extras to Restock:
Lids/Cups backup cabinets, Straws, Sleeves, Sugars, Teas, Bags, Carriers, Espresso bags, Cinnamon shakers, backup syrups/bases
& wipe fridges/cabinets inside & out
________________________

Shift closing checklist
12:00 - 3:00
Midday Temps
Midday Safe Count
Tips
Check if Inventory Count (Department every Wed & Sun, count Freezer items)

3:30 - 4:00
Start PM pull
Move over food in freezers if delivery is coming

4:00 - 7:00
Finish PM pull
Start counting drawers
Milks marked and rotated

7:00 - 8:00
Finish Inventory Count
Temps
Milk Count - FOH & BOH
Finish counting 3 Front Drawers and 1 Drive Thru
Get tips ready for final drop
Bring in green totes and set beside freezers if delivery

9:00
Count the Safe
Collect last drawers & tips
Finalize deposit & write in BRINKS book
Write POS Sales numbers in book
Store Walk:
Fridges Closed
Drawers & Boxes open
Sinks & Drains empty
Throw out expired Food
Trashes empty
Double check pills ran
Write note in book
Ovens, brewers, dishwasher all turned off
Confirm all doors and DT window locked
Set alarm

Best advice I can give is that there are no barista only tasks. Take out the trash, clean the bathrooms, etc. If you work hard, people will work hard on your shift. There are always going to be a handful that are exceptions to this, but this motto has served me well.